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PAUL.J

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About PAUL.J

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  1. Well, Unc is uncirculated and does mean just that!! EF has been in circulation and received minimal wear to the highest points of the design. Unc is the higher grade and would be more valuable.
  2. PAUL.J

    The most detailed enquiry?

    Sounds like a Britannia groat to me!! 'A man with a lance' - thats a classic!! I've never heard Britannia described like that (and I am only presuming its Britannia!!)
  3. Yes You're right Raoul. I have worked on a number of projects where metal detectorists have been asked to search a site before or during excavation and have worked closely with the archaeologists. This is done to ensure that anything they find can be properly recorded. They usually get to keep what they find as payment (unless its of historical interest etc). This closer working partnership had to be done to stop the more dishonest 'treasure hunters' breaking onto sites at night, destroying valuable archaeological data and stealing important finds. I think they used to be called 'Night Hawks' at some point - or perhaps this was just one group. Archaeologists would return to the site in the morning to find it covered in holes - completely vandalised. As I have stated before, once an archaeological site is excavated its gone forever. Such people in my opinion are on a level with those who burn books!
  4. I would agree that it is more likely to be a commemerative piece - either token or medal - rather than a coin. The picture you descibe is the Coat of Arms of Nova Scotia. The sheild is a reversal of the scottish flag so would be a blue saltire on a white field. The unicorn is taken from the royal arms of Scotland and the man is a member of the Mi'kmaq, the indigenous peoples of Nova Scotia. If you get that magnifying glass the motto should read 'Munit haec et altera vincit' or 'One (hand) defends and the other conquers'. The Mayflower is the patriotic symbol of Nova Scotia and represents both 'coming of age' and survival in adversity.
  5. A better picture would be good as going on a description alone is quite difficult. I am stepping well out of my field but I do know a little about Spanish Colonial coins. The date of 1781 is really weird. As Geoff has said, Charles III was on the Spanish throne until 1788 and coins from this period would have his name and titles. The titles quoted are found on coins of Phillip II between 1586 - 1594. The legends quoted for the obverse and reverse are the same as those used on Atocha silver coins produced at mints at Potosi, Lima and Mexico City and can be translated as 'Phillip by the grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies.' The 'leaf shaped emblem' divided into four sections with castles and lions is the crowned Spanish Coat of Arms. On coins known as 'pillar dollars' the letters MF would represent the initials of the assayers. I know that such initials are found on the coins of Manual de Leon and Francisco de la Pena y Flores who worked together between 1731-1754 and also Maniel de Lamas and Francisco Herrera who worked together 1788-1802. There may be others and neither of these ties in with the date on this coin? The number '8' denotes the denomination in spanish reales. So, we have here what appears to be a Spanish Colonial silver 8 reales with a date that does not match the titles. Perhaps we have a fantasy piece, reproduction or forgery? A decent picture would probably help solve this little mystery!!
  6. Because the Cartwheel coinage was made of copper they are relatively soft and easily dented etc. I once heard from an elderly relative that because such coins were large and heavy they were used in a game that involved throwing them against a wall. (Just the really worn ones I hope!!). Not sure if this is true but if so, this piece could have won many a game!!
  7. Just a quick word of caution though (and I don't mean to be boring!!) but there are laws in the UK about metal detecting and as most of the land in the UK is 'owned' by someone you should always ask the permission of the land owner before digging little holes all over the place and removing the loot! As an ex-archaeologist, I would also like to emphasise the importance of reporting finds for the record and preserving/protecting historical sites. Once the archaeological record is disturbed its gone forever!
  8. I collect early milled silver so anything that circulated after 1662 and prior to 1760. (Although I have got hammered and later examples in my collection) I don't think I would now buy any more pieces that date after 1760. I focus on all major types, but am not too bothered about minor varieties, over dates etc. My first ambition is to collect each major bust variety for sixpences, shillings, halfcrowns and Crowns. Not done too badly for everything except Crowns!! I try and buy the best examples I can and insist on a minimum of VF with no flaws etc, but you have to be a little flexible!! I've found that James II sixpences do pop up from time to time but when I was looking my difficulty was getting one in a grade within my price range. I found several in EF and better but very few in the lower grades. The other problem is that they don't stay on the market for long so you have to be quick when considering a purchase!
  9. I agree. Definitely an imitation spade guinea. Very common, used as gaming counters and advertising tokens etc. Lots of different varieties. Produced over a long period of time. I know some people who have collected lots of different types. Quite interesting really. Some have legends such as 'in memory of the good old days' or fantasy lettering rather than the titles you would expect to find on the real thing. I have very fond memories of imitation spade guineas!! One was amongst a small collection of coins given to me when I was a kid by my grandfather - I remember thinking how old it was!! It was this that started me collecting. So......you never know!!
  10. PAUL.J

    Your dream coin?

    I've always dreamed of owning a Charles II Petition Crown. Missed two chances recently!! (yeh right!). Odd, as I'm really into currency coins rather than patterns etc. I just think that the petition crown is a wonderful piece of craftsmanship. Oli - talking of the 1933 penny being 'down to earth' I believe that a couple are known to have been placed in the foundations of buildings. You could always try digging them up!!
  11. PAUL.J

    Hmm...

    Luckily the coin was unharmed!! I suppose it had survived well for just over 300 years prior to that little incident and quite a few people have probably flipped it!! It was at that point though, the most expensive coin I had bought. £125.00 for a NVF/VF 1693 Shilling. Lovely tone!! That would have been around 1993! I do get very nervous when anyone asks to handle my coins. That doesn't happen very often though as most of my friends are not interested!! Probably best.
  12. PAUL.J

    Hmm...

    Wise move Sylvester! When I was a student I showed one of my friends my newly purchased William & Mary shilling that I had just obtained from a coin fair. He took it out of the envelope I had brought it home in and flipped it shouting 'heads or tails'!!! He seemed quite shocked when I didn't find it funny!!
  13. I know what you mean Sylvester! I too am loyal to early milled. Not really interested in Ancient, foreign or modern issues. As well as Charles II and James II, I think the coins of William and Mary and the First two Georges are fantastic!
  14. I agree with Randy. The Silver Britannia Proof coins are the only Modern coins that I have bought and I think they are stunning. I thought it would be nice to have a modern example of a silver coin for each year along side my 17th and 18th century examples!! However, I don't think there is a different design for every year. I thought I read somewhere that Phillip Nathan had made 4/5 designs and as these have all been used earlier designs are going to be re-used - the 2004 design for example was first used in 1998? I'm not sure and as I'm at work I have no reference books with me!!!!
  15. As a seller, you always want to sell a coin for as much as possible but as a buyer, you want to pay as little as possible!! I have found that additional considerations like a cleaned coin complicate the matter even further!! I personally won't buy a cleaned coin (knowingly!) but have ended up with one via ebay. The coin in question - an otherwise VF+ 1671 Halfcrown - quite difficult to find in higher grades. Now because I could not find an uncleaned equivalent (and I really wanted this type) I kept this example. Its starting to retone and looks quite attractive. Its very difficult to judge the effect on the value of this past vandalism!! Similarly, how would scratches, die flaws and patchy toning all effect the price of a coin? I have seen quite ugly coins at full catalogue value. I think rarity here is a key factor. Collectors are prepared to pay full price despite any faults for coin they really really want.
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